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FrozenGate by Avery
405nm AR glass lenses - fit AixiZ FEELER
- Thread starter IgorT
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I would like 1 for 405nm !!! Thanks
IgorT
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Re: 405nm AR glass lenses - fit AixiZ FEELER
Anyway, i know everyone is anxious. Like i said, i have 300 lens nuts headed my way, and i can't do anything without those anyway. The lenses will be made in 1 week after i make the order.
So, i took some time to do some testing, comparing the lenses i have here.
Let me show you all why i am so careful this time around...
A while ago i ordered 30 custom AR coated glass lenses, made to specs. They cost me almost $700.
Here are the results. In both pictures is my 6x running at 219mA.
Anyway, i know everyone is anxious. Like i said, i have 300 lens nuts headed my way, and i can't do anything without those anyway. The lenses will be made in 1 week after i make the order.
So, i took some time to do some testing, comparing the lenses i have here.
Let me show you all why i am so careful this time around...
A while ago i ordered 30 custom AR coated glass lenses, made to specs. They cost me almost $700.
Here are the results. In both pictures is my 6x running at 219mA.
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IgorT
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Re: 405nm AR glass lenses - fit AixiZ FEELER
IgorT --
I'm still drooling for a lens too
Mike
IgorT --
I'm still drooling for a lens too
Mike
IgorT
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artix
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Re: 405nm AR glass lenses - fit AixiZ FEELER
Awesome thin beam! ;D I can't wait!
Well I am waiting... For my Kryton groove, and my 6x!
(I am not very patient.
)
Awesome thin beam! ;D I can't wait!
Well I am waiting... For my Kryton groove, and my 6x!
(I am not very patient.
)
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Re: 405nm AR glass lenses - fit AixiZ FEELER
sexiness! i know the issue so i will let others guess
sexiness! i know the issue so i will let others guess
IgorT
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Re: 405nm AR glass lenses - fit AixiZ FEELER
Take a close look at the beam, right after it exits the laser. The beam is NOT focused to converge. It is in "parallel" focus. Well, at least the middle of the diode output is.
The diode has a very wide output on one axis. The sides of that output should be collimated into the same parallel beam, as the middle, resulting in the flat beam we are used to, with a cros-section, shaped like the diode output.
But the v1 custom lens creates "wings".. Close to the lens, the beam looks as if it starts wide, then get's narrower, and then suddenly becomes parallel and continues straight.. But the part of the beam that converges at first, diverges after it crosses. With a lot of smoke or fog, you can see "wings" around the beam.
And the result... Well, it's not pretty. Basically, it projects the shape of the die AROUND the spot, instead of the spot having the shape of the die.
This is why i am so carefull and about the v3 custom lens.. I am not happy with the v1. And it cost me a lot of money!
It is called spherical abberations. Doesn't sound nearly as bad as it looks..
Take a close look at the beam, right after it exits the laser. The beam is NOT focused to converge. It is in "parallel" focus. Well, at least the middle of the diode output is.
The diode has a very wide output on one axis. The sides of that output should be collimated into the same parallel beam, as the middle, resulting in the flat beam we are used to, with a cros-section, shaped like the diode output.
But the v1 custom lens creates "wings".. Close to the lens, the beam looks as if it starts wide, then get's narrower, and then suddenly becomes parallel and continues straight.. But the part of the beam that converges at first, diverges after it crosses. With a lot of smoke or fog, you can see "wings" around the beam.
And the result... Well, it's not pretty. Basically, it projects the shape of the die AROUND the spot, instead of the spot having the shape of the die.
This is why i am so carefull and about the v3 custom lens.. I am not happy with the v1. And it cost me a lot of money!
It is called spherical abberations. Doesn't sound nearly as bad as it looks..
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IgorT
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Re: 405nm AR glass lenses - fit AixiZ FEELER
The beam is thin, yes.. Not only thin, it is also PERFECTLY round! But that's the problem...
The v1 custom lens is a spherical lens. Spherical lenses do not have the same FL (focal length) over the entire diameter, only in the middle..
The FL changes outwards from the middle. This means, that the round middle part of the diode output will get collimated, resulting in the perfectly round beam. But the sides of the diode output hit the sides of the lens, where the FL is different. Instead of going in the same direction as the middle, they converge first, cross and then spread, creating the "wings" effect, and the mess around the spot....
Spherical lenses don't make good laser diode collimators. You need two or three spherical lenses, to create the beam, we are all used to.
This is why we need aspherics. The AixiZ acrylic is an aspherical lens, and the more i learn about lenses, the more impressed i am by that cheap plastic lens! It's actually very hard to get such a nice beam as that cheap lens makes!
Luckily, i was able to obtain samples of two different aspheric samples. But when i put in the one i put my hopes in, the result was even worse! I did not think that is posible at all.
The lens i am working on now is the third lens. A 7.9mm diameter aspherical lens, made of a glass with a transmittance even higher than the v1, and with a better coating.
But this time around i won't be the only one putting money into it. And i definitelly don't want to risk anyone else's money! I already did some tests, and i know for sure, that this lens is much better than anything i had so far. It creates a thin beam and a spot with little or no crap around. But i need to make double extra sure, before proceeding, because this time around it's about your money too.
But i am working on that. The clock is ticking now. The offer does not last forever, and the lens nuts are on the way already. Wish me luck!
The beam is thin, yes.. Not only thin, it is also PERFECTLY round! But that's the problem...
The v1 custom lens is a spherical lens. Spherical lenses do not have the same FL (focal length) over the entire diameter, only in the middle..
The FL changes outwards from the middle. This means, that the round middle part of the diode output will get collimated, resulting in the perfectly round beam. But the sides of the diode output hit the sides of the lens, where the FL is different. Instead of going in the same direction as the middle, they converge first, cross and then spread, creating the "wings" effect, and the mess around the spot....
Spherical lenses don't make good laser diode collimators. You need two or three spherical lenses, to create the beam, we are all used to.
This is why we need aspherics. The AixiZ acrylic is an aspherical lens, and the more i learn about lenses, the more impressed i am by that cheap plastic lens! It's actually very hard to get such a nice beam as that cheap lens makes!
Luckily, i was able to obtain samples of two different aspheric samples. But when i put in the one i put my hopes in, the result was even worse! I did not think that is posible at all.
The lens i am working on now is the third lens. A 7.9mm diameter aspherical lens, made of a glass with a transmittance even higher than the v1, and with a better coating.
But this time around i won't be the only one putting money into it. And i definitelly don't want to risk anyone else's money! I already did some tests, and i know for sure, that this lens is much better than anything i had so far. It creates a thin beam and a spot with little or no crap around. But i need to make double extra sure, before proceeding, because this time around it's about your money too.
But i am working on that. The clock is ticking now. The offer does not last forever, and the lens nuts are on the way already. Wish me luck!
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Re: 405nm AR glass lenses - fit AixiZ FEELER
Nice work Igor.
I can hardly wait to place one of these in front of my new 6x diode, installed in my new Kryton-groove.
;D Life is good ;D
Nice work Igor.
I can hardly wait to place one of these in front of my new 6x diode, installed in my new Kryton-groove.
;D Life is good ;D
chopper
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Re: 405nm AR glass lenses - fit AixiZ FEELER
If it is possible I would love to get in for 2 broadband and 2 405nm.
Igor I hope you know how much we appreciate you persistence to get the best lens possible!
If it is possible I would love to get in for 2 broadband and 2 405nm.
Igor I hope you know how much we appreciate you persistence to get the best lens possible!
IgorT
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Re: 405nm AR glass lenses - fit AixiZ FEELER
Thank you.... Yes, everything is still open.
So... I managed to grind the edge of the v3 lens down enough to get it into the lens nut!
I was almost scared of putting it into a laser, to test it...
Well, the enlarged spot would seem to have the correct outline. But it is horribly distorted. I ruined the lens....
It looked just fine, but only untill i put it under a microscope... I scratched it all over the place! :'(
One down, one to go.
Thank you.... Yes, everything is still open.
So... I managed to grind the edge of the v3 lens down enough to get it into the lens nut!
I was almost scared of putting it into a laser, to test it...
Well, the enlarged spot would seem to have the correct outline. But it is horribly distorted. I ruined the lens....
It looked just fine, but only untill i put it under a microscope... I scratched it all over the place! :'(
One down, one to go.
IgorT
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Re: 405nm AR glass lenses - fit AixiZ FEELER
Well, the scratches cause gaps in the beam, but it can still be used to check the shape of the beam and any distortions...
I put it in another, better lens nut, and got it into a laser completelly. The spot at 1m was perfect! No wings whatsoever!
At a distance, there was some distortions, but not around the dot.. Not the way the v1 distorted the beam!
I think it works! I really think it works!!! :'(
I tried straightening it out, but i shattered it. It was stuck.. But i'm pretty sure the small distortions were from the imperfect angle or bad centering. I think it works!!
Now i need to figure out the mounting.. These short FL lenses need to sit very close to the diode. If you look at the close-up picture above, you will notice, that the lens nut has to go into the AixiZ completelly - of course that is v1, which has even shorter FL. With v3 it's not that deep. But if at all possible i would like to be able to use the fousing rings....
Well, the scratches cause gaps in the beam, but it can still be used to check the shape of the beam and any distortions...
I put it in another, better lens nut, and got it into a laser completelly. The spot at 1m was perfect! No wings whatsoever!
At a distance, there was some distortions, but not around the dot.. Not the way the v1 distorted the beam!
I think it works! I really think it works!!! :'(
I tried straightening it out, but i shattered it. It was stuck.. But i'm pretty sure the small distortions were from the imperfect angle or bad centering. I think it works!!
Now i need to figure out the mounting.. These short FL lenses need to sit very close to the diode. If you look at the close-up picture above, you will notice, that the lens nut has to go into the AixiZ completelly - of course that is v1, which has even shorter FL. With v3 it's not that deep. But if at all possible i would like to be able to use the fousing rings....